The Philadelphia Eagles had arguably the most productive 2022 NFL Draft outing. At the beginning of the offseason, the team had three first-round picks. So much potential early on gave Philadelphia leverage for trades that took place before and during the draft.
After a ton of behind-the-scenes work by Howie Roseman, the Eagles look sharper than ever headed into the 2022 NFL Season. The Birds picked up Jordan Davis and Cameron Jurgens with their first two picks. However, it's safe to say that their third selection could make the biggest immediate impact in the upcoming season.
So, who is the Eagles' rookie sleeper for the 2022 NFL Season?
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Eagles Rookie Sleeper for 2022 NFL Season
Inside Linebacker Nakobe Dean
The Eagles selected Nakobe Dean with the 83rd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Dean was ranked the top inside linebacker in the 2022 draft class. He was expected to go 19th overall but quickly slipped from a first-round prospect to a third-round steal for the Eagles. But how?
According to reports from Draft Weekend, Dean suffered a “severe pec strain” and opted out of surgery to repair it. This caused concern for some teams who were otherwise potentially interested in the linebacker.
Fortunately for the Eagles, they took the risk at just the right moment, and it looks like it's going to pay off tremendously. Dean hasn't missed any practice time this offseason due to injury and has been an active participant at Eagles Rookie Minicamp.
Dean was fortunate enough to be drafted alongside his Georgia teammate, Jordan Davis. The Eagles selected Davis in the first round and didn't pick up Dean until much later. However, as noted by Davis, draft selection doesn't matter, and he's confident that Dean will prove that in Philadelphia.
“Nakobe is a first-round caliber player,” Davis said at the start of minicamp. “I believe that, no matter where he got picked. It doesn’t matter where you start. It’s about how you finish. And I’m sure Nakobe is going to finish as one of the greats when all is said and done.”
Dean plans on turning his poor draft situation into motivation. He told reporters at minicamp that his draft nosedive will undoubtedly serve a purpose throughout his career in the NFL.
“It’s definitely something that will stick with me. It’s not my primary or secondary source of motivation, but it’s definitely something that will stick with me throughout my playing career.”
For now, Dean is second in line for the starting middle linebacker position in Philadelphia behind T.J. Edwards. However, this could quickly change as the offseason continues and Dean proves his talent to the franchise. After all, there's a reason why Roseman took the big risk — he wants an even bigger reward.
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